News
Nickels backs immigration platform
Family reunification, visas, assimilation part of OneAmerica initiative
Voice and hands shaking, Leandro Barranco Morales, 27, spoke at the Immigration Reform press conference in Seattle’s City Hall on June 1. Detained with 27 co-workers in a raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Bellingham on Feb. 24 of this year, he described, through a Spanish interpreter, the impact the current immigration system has had him and on his looming deportation once the investigation of his previous workplace is complete.
Representing himself and six others who are also in his predicament, Morales said, “We are asking the laws of immigration in this country to follow the Constitution.”
Morales and five other speakers, including Mayor Greg Nickels, took turns addressing the audience with a backdrop of supporters from various organizations holding “Reform Immigration FOR America” posters printed in red, white and blue. Supported by Nickels and more than 200 national and local organizations, OneAmerica, the largest immigrant advocacy organization in Washington state, announced at the conference the launching of the Northwest component of the national campaign to Reform Immigration FOR America.
Seattlewas one of 25 cities which launched its campaigns on the same day. This conference was part of a week-long series of events in over 20 states before the White House is scheduled to host a bipartisan meeting on immigration June 8. Several speakers mentioned that immigration is an issue that ultimately needs reform at the federal level; many hope that President Obama’s meeting will result in the overhaul they’re looking for.
“Economically and morally, the time is now to fix our broken immigration system,” OneAmerica Board Chair Mubarak Elamin said at the press conference. “This is a time filled with hope, excitement and resolve.”
OneAmerica, known as Hate Free Zone until 2008, has dedicated itself to immigrant injustice for almost a decade. The organization outlined six core components of comprehensive immigration reform. They include using a sensible and civilized method to deal with undocumented residents; keeping families of immigrants together and bringing together those who’ve waited a long time to be reunited; making sure employees are protected with rights and labor protection; giving enough visas to make illegal migration channels obsolete; protecting the fundamental rights of all; and promoting immigrant integration.
“Seattle will be very clear in supporting comprehensive and fair immigration reform,” said Nickels. He also said that he has asked the federal government to step up to the challenge.
According to the city’s web site, Seattle is projected to be almost 20 percent foreign born by 2010 — about 120,000 people. Echoing the ordinance he signed in 2003, Nickels expressed the importance of providing equal services to all of the city’s inhabitants, regardless of immigration status. The law forbids police and other city workers from asking people about their immigration status so they are not reluctant to seek out city services.
Renne Radcliff Sinclair, executive director of congressional and public affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of immigration reform in the Northwest due to its strong agricultural economy and growing technology sector. Describing cherry trees laden with fruit and no one to pick it, as well as software companies without enough engineers, she told reporters that it’s important to provide enough visas to supplement the demand for employees in these areas.
“America has been a welcoming place for over 200 years,” Nickels said. “The 100,000 [immigrants in Seattle] are here for the same reasons as our grandparents and great grandparents [were].” Through the city’s renewed dedication to immigration reform, he says he intends on continuing the legacy.
“We are a nation of immigrants,” said Radcliff Sinclair. “That is our history and I am convinced it will also be our future.”
Comments
I’m righting this in english because i don’t have a interpreter. Barranco needs to read up on our laws. The main one is Simposn/Mazzoli immigration reform and control act(google it)(it became law in 1986 when they gave amnesty, guess it did’nt work) according to that law he’s breaking along with whoever employs him. the employer should be fined. The elected offiicals who took a oath should enforce it.The laws are in place. All we need is E-verifty more border enforcement,enforce all existing laws,no more birthright citizenship(their are bills in congress right now)we’ve had anywhere from 12,000,000 to 20,000,000 illegal immigrants crossed our borders with total disregard for our laws. the country is in a recession, american citizens are out of work and loseing everything, i think worrying about illegal immigrants is a joke, no more amnesty, time to go home, take care of our own.
you are writing in english cause you from England, stop comment of
who need to go home. its time for you to go home. if American Indian
blog they at home,flip burgers,90 degree in the fields, do you really believe america is out of work? i should say not! this no joke!!!!!
What part of Illegal do you not understand? Those that come to this country that are not invited are Illegal Aliens… not immigrants, they should be thrown back over the border or where ever they have come from… ANY employer that is found to employ illegal aliens should be given a 50k fine and 30 days in jail for the first offense. Any illegal alien should be immediately thrown in jail for 30 days then deported...period. Look at the results of operation “wetback”.... I believe it was in 1956, it worked in 3/4 states, 2.5 million illegal aliens were pushed back over the border. We did it then, we can do it now. IF you want to come to this country, follow the laws of this country and wait your turn. Why should those that break our laws get legal status before those that have obeyed our laws and are either waiting their turn or have waited and gotten into the US legally ??? My Grandparents had to wait, then came when it was legal…
Attrition thru Enforcement of our Immigration Laws. E-Verify all jobs and gov’t programs. Mandatory 287g Nationwide. Call Congress (866.220.0044) tell them to Vote Yes on HR2406
the CLEAR ACT for local criminal Alien Removal Nationwide.
For the real agenda of the illegal alien invasion visit theterryandersonshow.com Listen to 5/31/09 archived show. Also click on Augustin Cebada.
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